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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Seizing Russian Oligarchs’ Wealth
HEADLINE: World Powers Seize Assets of Russian Oligarchs
TEASER: The push aims to put financial pressure on Putin by squeezing those deemed closest to him
PUBLISHED AT: 03/11/2022 at 8:10 p.m.
BYLINE: LAUREL BOWMAN
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: WASHINGTON, DC
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MPage, Holly Franko
VIDEO SOURCE (S):
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:40
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:))
((INTRO: ))
[[In an attempt to tighten the financial screws on Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the invasion of Ukraine, countries around the world are seizing the prized possessions of oligarchs believed to be close to him. VOA's Laurel Bowman has that story.]]
((SHOTS —mass graves video is from Mariupol yesterday, the other footage comes down daily. I am looking for stills online of some of the sanctioned men))
((NARRATOR))
As Russia invades Ukraine, the scenes of war are horrific: mass graves being dug, bodies in the street, millions trying to escape across borders in what the United Nations says is the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War Two.
Hoping that financial pain will make Putin think again about his war has many nations going after the billionaires closest to him.
Twenty Russian oligarchs have been sanctioned since the invasion of Ukraine began.
((VIDEO—I have requested the below video from the library-if we don’t have, lose this sentence))
That includes Roman Abramovich and six others sanctioned by the UK Thursday. This even after he had put his English football team up for sale, saying the proceeds would go to the victims of the war in Ukraine.
((US President Joe Biden)) ((GMA-Putin Pressure Wed Pkg
https://app.frame.io/player/cd6417f9-7a7f-436a-99db-d719893b049a ))
:32 “I say to the Russian oligarchs and the corrupt leaders who have bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime, no more ... We are joining with European allies to find and seize their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private jets. We’re coming for your ill-begotten gains.”
((VIDEO -- https://app.frame.io/player/b5b2c5c8-370f-4754-9cf5-188ebe693249))
Yacht in port :41))
((NARRATOR))
Across the globe, prized toys are being seized, like this 280-foot yacht owned by the CEO of Russian state oil company Rosneft … now held in the South of France.
((VIDEO – https://app.frame.io/player/4c37efe7-1e1e-4a4c-9141-2b11eae9163e))
Lb-find still of Usmanov online
((NARRATOR))
Alisher Usmanov is a close Putin ally worth an estimated $14 billion. His yacht is in Germany and reportedly cannot leave without an export waiver. It’s one of the largest in the world, valued at nearly $600 million.
((Daniel Fried, Former US Assistant Secretary of State)) ((WN Russian Sanctions ThuNats
https://app.frame.io/player/b5b2c5c8-370f-4754-9cf5-188ebe693249 ))
“Think mafia where everybody kisses the ring of the boss and he makes lots and lots of money ... by sanctioning them, we are putting pressure on all of Putin’s ruling kleptocracy.”
((VIDEO – need stills online of Nikolay Tokarev, Mikhail Fridman, Gennady Timchenko (lb-make sure all are sanctioned))
((NARRATOR))
Forbes estimates that with their assets frozen, Russian billionaires have lost more than $126 billion since the war started.
((VIDEO- need still from online of Jack Sweeney)
((NARRATOR))
((Mandatory Courtesy of TWITTER/ @JxckSweeney))
Meanwhile, internet whizzes like 19-year-old Jack Sweeney are trying to track them down. Sweeney became famous for following
((end courtesy))
Elon Musk’s jet.
((Mandatory Courtesy of TWITTER/ @JxckSweeney))
He’s now tracking the Russian oligarchs’ jets.
((end courtesy))
((Jack Sweeney, Jet Tracker)) ((GMA-Putin Pressure Wed Pkg
https://app.frame.io/player/cd6417f9-7a7f-436a-99db-d719893b049a ))
1:40 “Originally, I was just interested in tracking the planes because other people had asked me, but now I see I can help people somehow in Ukraine by going after these Russian oligarchs.”
((VIDEO – maybe airlines landing in the U.S.))
((NARRATOR))
Meanwhile, more than 50 oligarchs and their relatives are banned from traveling to the United States. But experts aren’t certain what influence Putin’s oligarch allies have over him, while the circle of the Russian president’s most trusted advisers reportedly shrinks.
Laurel Bowman, VOA News, Washington.
NewsML Media TopicsConflict, War and Peace
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMarch 11, 2022 20:46 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
